Belaray Dermatology - Jericho, Plainview, Long Island, NY

Here are some tips to keep you looking your best for 2008! 

DISCARD OLD, USED BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Because bacteria is transferred from your fingers to your cosmetics, we suggest you discard your products one year after opening them. Products used near the eye (like mascara) should be replaced after three months. 

STOP SMOKING

We have already discussed several reasons to stop smoking here.  Smokers are more likely to have psoriasis, and to loose their hair.  It is also readily apparent that smoking makes your skin age prematurely - giving you wrinkles around your lips and eyes.

UNHAND THOSE PIMPLES!

Squeezing pimples is not the best thing for you.  Though it may appear as if you are getting the “bad stuff out”, often you are actually pushing bacteria and debris deeper into the skin.  Think of a pimple as a balloon under the skin.  When you squeeze it… you pop the balloon.  But balloons rarely pop in one direction.  They shatter.  The same thing is happening to you when you go for a zit.  You are much more likely to develop scars from pimples that you popped.

MORE SLEEP, LESS STRESS

Stress plays an important roll to our body, & our skin is no exception.  Studies have shown that stress can decrease the skin’s barrier, slow down wound healing, and lead to flairs of inflammatory skin disease like psoriasis, eczema, and hair loss.

WEAR SUNSCREEN & BE SUN SMART

Regular use of sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and avoiding the peak hours of the day can help you avoid some types of skin cancer as well as keep your skin looking its best.  The sun’s rays may make you feel good, but it is making you look older.  Exposure to UV light makes the skin blotchy in color and wrinkle prematurely.

The best sunscreen is the one that you use regularly!  There are several good sunscreens to choose from… but it might be worth looking for a broad spectrum sunscreen that also contains strong antioxidants like green tea polyphenols.  We will discuss the benefits of green tea in future posts. 

SIMPLIFY YOUR BEAUTY

Going to the pharmacy can be overwhelming!  There are so many products, and many many claims of efficacy!  Being on too many creams can be not only confusing, but also counterproductive.  If you want to do the best you can for your skin, you should ask your dermatologist about products that they recommend.  They can help you through the marketing, and get you products that are easy to use and effective.

WASH YOUR FACE

As we make our way through the day, our skin picks up environmental debris.  It is a good idea to wash your face nightly before bed.  After washing your face, we often recommend a variety of night creams - to help you achieve the goals you are after.

Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is a common disorder.  It affects approximately 20% of men in their 20’s, and up to 50% of men in their 50’s.  Androgenic alopecia can also be seen in women.

There are many treatments available for androgenic alopecia, some of which are more effective than others.  More to come about this later in the week.  Today, we wanted to share with you a study from the Archives of Dermatology that has suggested that smoking may increase the risk of hair loss.  In this paper, the authors discovered a direct relationship between how much an individual smokes, and how much hair they lost.

This study adds one additional benefit of quiting smoking to a long list.  Remember, that if you are thinking about quiting, you should discuss your plans with your doctor as they may have tricks and tools to help you quit this addictive habit.

We wanted to share with you an important study from the American Journal of Medicine: “ Smoking cessation may be a potentially important target for the prevention and management of psoriasis.”

In this study, researchers have shown that current, past, as well as cumulative levels of smoking, are associated with an increased risk of psoriasis.  And the more you smoke…. the higher your risk.  Prenatal exposure, and second hand smoke also put you at risk.  They have also shown that the risk decreases to nearly baseline levels after 20 years of abstinence. 

This adds one more important reason to consider quiting.  We know that quitting can be very difficult, and if you feel ready to quit you should speak with your internist for help.  There are many tools available to help you break this addictive habit.